The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-07-16

The men who fought at Gettysburg
will never forget the Fourth OF July OF
1863. which was TO many Of them. at
once the most awful and the most JOY
Gus Of their lives. 10 was Saturday.
Previous TO the three days lighting.
several Of the brigades had undergone
three weeks Of marching. and had
reached the field nearly exhausted.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday,
the days of the battle, had been ex-
tremely hot. circumstance which
added unspeakably to the distress OF
the troops. and had much TO do with
the subsequent inactivity of the vic
tors.
Friday evening, came the double re-
lief of the cessation OF the contest and
most refreshing storm Of thunder.
lightning, and rain. The Temperatures
fell from ninety-two degrees to sew
enty-two; and many thousands Of poor
fellows. lying wounded on the field.
were revived by the shower. The
timely moisture saved many lives.
Many of the victors were faint with
hunger, for they had been swept by
the whirlwind OF battle, far away from
their supplies. A company Of the
Fourteenth Connecticut crept out after
dark TO where the confederates lay,
and took from the dead men their hav-
ersacks. which they found nearly full
OF excellent hoecakes. Some of the
cakes were stained with the blood OF
the fallen men.
The Fourth OF July was day of
comparative rest to both armies. The
weather was fine, the air was clear and
cool, and the news of victory was iill-
ing the land with gladness. Vast
numbers OF the troops on the field
were too dazed and worn out 10 enjoy
anything but the rest TO body and
mind which the day brought There
was, besides, the duty OF caring for
the wounded and burying the dead.
Never did any army more wildly
realize the truth of Wellington's COM
ment upon Waterloo: Next TO a de-
feat, victory is the most dreadful of
all things" To those brave men We
owe the peace. prosperity, and JOY OF
our national holiday of 1887. On all
occasions of national festivity let
them be remembered with gratitude.
THE RECRUITING SERVICE.
A recruiting sergeant says: THE
number of recruits that offer them
selves is an excellent barometer OF the
condition OF trade throughout the
country. When trade Is slack crowds
present themselves, while, when work
is plenty. IL Is hard to get as many
good men as we need. Not one APP
plicant in ten Is accepted, as. IL man
has the slightest physical inhrmity,
such as imperfect sight, or deafness OF
one ear, he is rejected. The weight of
the recruits is carefully regulated.
none being allowed TO enter the cavalry
who are over l55 pounds and very
light or very heavy man Is rejected for
all branches of the service. We have
great deal of trouble with young fell
lows of 10 or 20 who wish TO enlist
without the consent of their parents.
They all swear that they are over 81.
and 1t is next to impossible TO convince
them that We will not muster them In.
The officer in charge Is obliged to be
very strict,as Ii for any reason recruit
mustered by him lis rejected, he Is
obliged 10 pay all expenses incurred by
the Government. A great proportion
of the accepted recruits are old sol
diers, who have been discharged and
have made up their minds TO leave the
army. They try civil life from three
months 10 year, at the end OF which
time they nearly all are again In the
ranks. Soldiers are well fed, well
clothed, cared for when sick, and are
as a class far better of than the ordi-
nary laboring men. Men are begin
ming TO recognize this fact, and of late
years far better class of men have
enlisted than was formerly the case.
The army is no longer composed OF
rutiians and criminals, but Of a most
excellent set of men.
HORRORS OF INDIAN WARFARE.
"Did / ever tell you of little Incl
dent that happened during the Indian
war of 1927 said Lieut.. Morgan, of
the police force yesterday. "Well. l
was member OF company A, 9th Min
nesota volunteers. When we were up
in a county which had been devastated
by the Sioux there was detail OF our
company sent out under the command
of Capt. Grant, of my company to bury
the dead Above Birch coulee We
found man who told us that he, with
his wife, two daughters and little
son, were in the garden when he heard
the crack of guns. His wife and
daughters dropped dead He grabbed
the boy and started 10 run down the